Fri.’s Devo - God Almighty

Read: Isaiah 33:10-36:22; Galatians 5:13-26; Psalm 64:1-10; Proverbs 23:23 One of God’s repeating themes throughout the Bible is that the ungodly will be judged and the righteous will be saved. Isaiah spells out who the godly are. They are those who are honest and fair and refuse to take bribes or defraud others. They refuse to plot murder or be enticed to do wrong. These are the ones who will rule the mountain. They will be supplied with food and water in abundance. *** At the time, the enemy was the Assyrian army who had come to take Jerusalem. But, Isaiah was reminding them of a much greater king than the king of Assyria. God will protect Jerusalem from their enemy and they will stand strong. The wealth of the Assyrians will be given to the righteous and God will forgive their sins. *** God will judge the world and Edom will be destroyed for all the evil they did against God’s people. Their land will become a desert from generation to generation and no one will live there again. It will be given to the wild animals and be called the Land of Nothing. *** Out of the midst of that nothingness will spring life and healing and hope. A road that was once deserted will become known as the Highway of Holiness and the evil-minded people will not be able to travel it. It will be for those who walk in God’s ways. Those ransomed by the Lord will enter Jerusalem singing for joy. *** In Hezekiah’s 14th year, King Sennacherib of Assyria came to destroy Jerusalem. The Assyrian’s chief of staff sent a message to Hezekiah telling him he was had no hope to win. Egypt would not help them and neither would God. Their army was tiny compared to Assyria’s. *** When the leaders asked the Assyrian officer not to speak in Hebrew so the people could understand him, he told them that he was speaking so they could understand. He wanted them to be afraid and lose heart. He reminded them of the other nations who fell and thought their god would rescue them. Their gods were not able to stand against Assyria’s army. They didn’t know that their god was not just any other god he was The God Almighty. *** The people didn’t answer the officer because Hezekiah had told them not to answer him. Hezekiah was told what was being said and he tore his clothes in despair. *** In Galatians, Paul tells us not to use our freedom in Christ as an excuse to sin, but instead as a way to serve one another in love. We can do this by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our lives. The Holy Spirit sets us free from the law. He will produce his fruit in us which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. *** Lord, we choose to be controlled by your Holy Spirit instead of our sinful nature. We choose to walk in love.

Thurs.’s Devo - Salvation

Read: Isaiah 30:12-33:9; Galatians 5:1-12; 63:1-11; Proverbs 23:22 Israel despised what the Lord said through his prophets and listened to the lies and oppression of the enemy, so the thing they feared came upon them. God told them that the only way they would be saved was if they returned to him so he could show them his love and compassion. *** God wanted to send them a teacher to show them the way back to righteousness and back to him. Then the Lord would be able to shower them with blessings in every area of their lives. *** Those who looked to Egypt for help would be greatly disappointed. They will fail them because they are mere humans. God and his army will protect Jerusalem. The Assyrians will have to face God’s army and they will be defeated. *** God will send his honest prince, Jesus, and those who have eyes to see and ears to hear will receive him and his words. *** The ones who trusted in their riches will be devastated and lose everything, but those who put their confidence in the Lord will live in safety and be at rest. They will plant see and receive bountiful crops. *** The Assyrians who were always the ones who destroyed everyone else, will be destroyed. Those who wait on the Lord will not be disappointed; they will be saved. Their enemies will run at the sound of God’s voice. God promises that Jerusalem will one day be his home of justice and righteousness. *** Paul encourages the Galatians to stay free from serving the law for salvation. Righteousness is obtained by faith not by adhering to the law. If you think the law can make you righteous then you must obey every tittle of it and you must reject Christ who came to set you free. *** Lord, thank you for setting us free from the requirements of the law and giving us grace. May we walk in your Spirit that gives us life.

Wed.’s Devo - God is Our Only Hope

Read: Isaiah 28:14-30:11; Galatians 3:23-4:31; Psalm 62:1-12; Proverbs 23:19-21 The rulers of Jerusalem had thought they could buy their way out of the judgment that was coming, but God was not letting that happen. Jesus would be the standard of justice. The wicked will get what they deserve. The Lord is determined to crush the whole land. *** Jerusalem will be punished for her blood sacrifices made to foreign gods. She will be crushed, then God will crush those who destroyed her; they will be gone like a vapor. Jerusalem won’t believe these words, but it will still happen as the prophet proclaimed. *** The people of Jerusalem can’t believe Isaiah’s words because their eyes have been blinded and their hearts sealed. They are hypocrites that just go through the motions of worshiping God, but their hearts are far from him. The wicked, who don’t think God sees what they do in secret, will find out differently. *** Then the veil will be removed from the eyes of the humble and they will be filled with joy. The wicked and the scoffer will be gone and the innocent will rejoice. *** Israel had asked Egypt for their help instead of asking the Lord. Instead of help, they got humiliation. Israel gave them much money to help them, but it was all in vain. *** God told Isaiah to write all this in a book to stand as a witness against the people who refused to heed its words. They didn’t want to hear any bad news, they just wanted to hear good news from the prophets. *** In Galatians, Paul was warning the church not to listen to the teachers who were trying to put them under the law again. Paul gave many examples of how they are not subject to the law anymore, but the freedom of grace by faith. *** Lord, let us remain in the freedom you purchased for us at Calvary. Our victory comes from you alone.

Tues.’s Devo - Christ’s Victory

Read: Isaiah 25:1-28:13; Galatians 3:10-22; Psalm 61:1-8; Proverbs 23:17-18 Isaiah declared the wonderful things God was doing. He was turning mighty cities into heaps of ruins, yet he was a tower of refuge to the poor and needy. He was a shelter from the storm and heat. He silenced the threats of foreign nations. *** God will spread a feast for the people of the world in Jerusalem and remove the cloud of gloom and the shadow of death. He will swallow up death forever and wipe away all tears. The people will rejoice in God’s victory. The God they trusted will save them. *** The people of the Lord will sing that they are surrounded by walls of salvation. All who are righteous may enter in and be saved. God will make their path straight and smooth. *** When God judges, the people learn what is right. Kindness to the wicked does not make them do right. It doesn’t change them. *** God gives his people peace and He will make us great again. He tells the people to go in their houses and stay hidden until the evil people are punished and brought out for all to see. *** Leviathan will be punished and all who followed him unless they repent. Israel will be exiled to purge away her sin. All the pagan altars would be crushed to dust and her towns will lie dormant and overgrown with weeds. The wild animals will overtake her because she turned away from God. *** Her leaders, priests and prophets were all drunkards who defied God’s authority. God tried to tell them little by little what was coming but now he will have to talk to them through foreign oppressors who does not even speak their language. God tried to bring them into his rest, but they refused to come. God will speak to them again little by little. The message is that they will be injured, trapped and captured. In Galatians, Paul preached that those who believed they could be made right by obeying the law would be cursed. It is by faith that a person is make right with God. Christ rescued us from the curse of the law when he hung on the cross. He took the curse that was ours on himself. He did this for everyone - Jew and Gentile. *** God gave the promise to Abraham and his child… not children. This child was referring to Christ. The law was given 430 years after Abraham was given his promise and the law did not negate Abraham’s promise. The law was given alongside of the promise to show the people their sins. The law was only to last until the promised one came, who was Jesus. We are prisoners of sin until we accept the freedom of the cross. *** Lord, may we walk in the freedom you purchased for us on the cross. May we not be tempted to fall back into bondage and condemnation. Thank you for salvation. We love you for being our Father, our Saviour and our Friend.

Mon.’s Devo - A Picture of the End

Read: Isaiah 22:1-24:23; Galatians 2:17-3:9; Psalm 60:1-12; Proverbs 23:15-16 Isaiah is shown a vision of Jerusalem’s future. He sees the people dying of famine while the leaders have fled and given up without a fight. The walls of Jerusalem have been broken down and the people are trying to survive with little hope. In all their troubles, they don’t ask for the Lord’s help. They don’t repent or show any remorse for their sins. *** Isaiah singles out Shebna and rebukes him for building a monument to himself. Shebna was a prefect, or palace administrator who rejected Isaiah’s warnings for the people. Isaiah prophesied that he would be driven out of his office because he was a disgrace to his master. Eliakim would replace him. He would be a father to the people in Jerusalem and Judah. To him God would give the key to the house of David. When he opens doors, no one will be able to close them: when he closes doors, no one will be able to open them. *** The nail that is in the wall so permanently (Shebna) will fall to the ground and everyone who supports him will fall with him. *** God sent a message to Tyre, the marketplace of the world. God will destroy it and bring down all the earth’s nobility. It will be dormant for 70 years, then God will bring it back to life. She will once again be prosperous and become a prostitute to all the kingdoms, but in the end her wealth will be given to provide food and fine clothing for the Lord’s priests. (We are God’s priests.) *** The Lord will destroy the surface of the earth and scatter the people. They will be completely emptied and looted for their sins. They had twisted God’s instructions and violated his laws and broken his covenant. A curse was on the earth and the people must pay for their sins. A few will be left alive. Those few will shout and sing for joy and praise the Lord. All over the earth, those that are left will be signing songs of praise to the Lord. *** God will punish the gods in the heavens and the proud rulers on the earth. They will be rounded up and put in prison and finally punished. God will rule in great glory in Jerusalem in the sight of all the leaders of his people. *** While this is a prophecy for back then, it is a prophecy for right now also. Everything cycles around and we are at this very place where God is about to judge the wicked and reward the righteous. *** Paul goes to great lengths to explain that we no longer have to meet the requirements of the law to please God. We please him and are counted righteous by our faith in him. Our faith is what makes us his children. Our faith in Christ gives us the privilege of sharing in the blessing of Abraham. *** Lord, we put all our trust in you. When nations fall, we will trust in you and we will stand to be your light.

Sun.’s Devo - God Will Move

Read: Isaiah 19:1-21:17; Galatians 2:1-16; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 23:13-14 God had a message for Egypt. God would cause them to fight one another. They will call on their idols for wisdom but will be given a cruel master instead. *** The Nile will begin to dry up causing a drought. The answer coming from their government will be foolishness and wrong. Egypt will become weak and will fear Israel. Five of Egypt’s cities will follow the Lord and begin to speak Hebrew. One of them will be Heliopolis. They will cry to the Lord and make an altar to the Lord and a monument to the Lord at their border. The Lord will save them and send a savior to rescue them. He will make himself known to them and save them and heal them. *** Egypt and Assyria will be connected by a highway and move freely between their lands. They will both worship God. Egypt, Assyria and Israel will be a blessing in the middle of the earth. *** God told Isaiah to take off his burlap and sandals and walk naked and barefoot. He did this for three years as a sign of the terrible troubles that were coming for Egypt and Ethiopia. They will be taken away naked as prisoners. When this happens the Philistines will panic, knowing they are next. *** God sent a message to Babylon that disaster was coming to them. They will be attacked by the Elamites and the Medes. When their watchmen see chariot with a pair of horses coming they will know that Babylon is fallen. *** God sent a message to Edom. The night will be long before they can rest in peace. *** A message came to Arabia. They will be overrun by a foreign nation within a year. Tema will provide water for the refugees from Kedar. Kedar was a wandering tribe from northern Arabia. *** Paul continues his testimony. He spent 14 years away from Jerusalem and then God told him to return. He shared with the leaders of the church in Jerusalem his assignment to the Gentiles and they were in agreement of his ministry. *** Paul had brought Barnabas and Titus with him. Some of the false believers infiltrated the church and demanded that Titus be circumcised but Paul and the true believers refused to give in to them. They wanted to rob them of the freedom they had in Christ. *** James, Peter and John recognized Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles and while they ministered to the Jews. When Peter came to visit Paul in Antioch, Paul rebuked him because he stopped eating with the Gentiles because they hadn’t been circumcised. Peter caused Barnabas to follow him in this. He called him a hypocrite because they preached that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not be obeying the law. No one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law. *** Lord, we stand in the freedom you have given us in Christ. We stand for our freedom to reign on the earth as children of the Lord Most High. We do not tolerate wickedness in our nation and our houses, but call them to line up to the obedience of Christ.

Sat.’s Devo - Messages to Moab, Damascus and Galatia

Read: Isaiah 15:1-18:7; Galatians 1:1-24; Psalm 58:1-11; Proverbs 23:12 God sent a message to Moab by Isaiah. Ar, the metropolis of Moab would be leveled in a night and the people will panic in fear and mourn in sorrow. They will flee to Zoar in the south and Eglath-shelishiyah. Everywhere they look will be destruction and then lions will come and hunt them down. *** They will cry for Judah to help them. They will even send them lambs again like they did when David required the lambs as tribute. *** When the destruction has ended and the raiders have gone it will be the sign that it is time for one of David’s descendants to rule with mercy and truth. This is the Messiah. *** Moab will be completely devastated. They will cry out to their false gods but get no response. *** God told Isaiah that all this would happen in three years from that day. The glory of Moab would be taken down and only a few left alive. *** God gave Isaiah a message for Damascus. It would disappear into a heap of ruins. Then the people will look to their Creator and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel. All this happened because they turned from God who could save them and forgot that he was the Rock who could hide them. *** Armies would rage and make much noise, but God will silence them and make them run away like chaff scattered by the wind. Israel would be afraid for a very short time, but then it would be over and their enemies dead. *** God sent this message to Ethiopia, the headwaters of the Nile. They were a people feared for their conquests and destruction. They would plan an attack but God will stop them and leave them dead on the battle field. They will end up bringing gifts to God’s people in Jerusalem. *** In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, he rebukes them for turning away from The Lord so soon. They let themselves be deceived by the false doctrine of salvation. These other apostles had claimed that since Paul didn’t know Jesus, he was not a real apostle. *** Paul reminds them of his own testimony and how he started out persecuting the Christians until he had his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. He then went to Arabia for a while and then returned to Damascus. Three years later he went to Jerusalem to meet with Peter for 15 days. The only other apostle he met was James. After that he went to Syria and Cilicia to tell his testimony and the people praised God because of his great change. *** Lord, may we not look to people to honor, but honor you as the Supreme Creator of us all. May we esteem what you esteem and leave the rest to you. May we not be distracted by silly arguments and opinions. Your opinion is all we want.

Fri.’s Devo - The Day of the Lord

Read: Isaiah 12:1-14:32; 2 Corinthians 13:1-14; Psalm 57:1-11; Proverbs 23:9-11 In the day of victory, Israel will praised the Lord and be restored to the Lord. The day of salvation has come. *** Isaiah received a message to report about the destruction of Babylon. God will call armies from many nations to come and destroy the whole land of Babylon. The day of the Lord has arrived and the Lord is coming to judge the world of their evil and the wicked for their sin. The sky will go dark with God’s anger. *** God will stir up the Medes against Babylon. The Medes cannot be bought and will have no mercy. Babylon will become a place for wild animals. *** God will have mercy on Jacob’s descendants and bring them back to settle in their own land. The nations of the world will help them return and those who come to live in the Lord’s land will serve them. They will finally be free from sorrow and fear, slavery and chains. *** Then Isaiah was told to taunt the king of Babylon who struck the people with endless blows of rage and held the nations in tyranny. Finally, the earth is at rest and can sing. *** The spirits of the dead in the pit will welcome the king of Babylon and taunt him also. He will be ridiculed and disgraced. *** God sword an oath to Israel that He would set his people free from the reign of the Assyrians. *** When Ahaz died, God sent a message to the Philistines. They did not need to rejoice that he had died because one more dangerous will reign and you will die of famine. They would be attacked by a nation in the north and destroyed. He was also to tell the Philistines that Jerusalem was built to give refuge to his oppressed people. *** In Paul’s letter, he is warning them that he is coming the third time and hopes that they have heeded the instruction of his last letters. He prays that they have repented and cleaned up their lives. He wants to be able to come and encourage them, not tear them down. *** Lord, may we live with eternity in mind. May we rejoice at what you are doing in our nation to bring about righteousness and truth.

Thurs.’s Devo - The Return of Righteousness

Read: Isaiah 10:1-11:16; 2 Corinthians 12:11-21; Psalms 56:1-13; Proverbs 23:6-8 God spells out the sins of the unjust judges who wrote unfair laws to prey on the poor, the widows and the orphans. God was using Assyria as a tool to punish them but then he was going to judge Assyria. *** The king of Assyria will boast that he destroyed Israel on his own strength, but then he will face the might of the Lord. God will destroy Assyria which will end the bondage of his people. The remnant will be saved. Then out of David’s lineage will come the Messiah who will have the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. He will delight in obeying the Lord and will give justice to the poor and will shake the world with his words. His very breath will destroy the wicked. Peace will return to nature and fear of harm will be gone. Nothing will hurt or destroy in all God’s holy mountain. The earth will be filled with people who know the Lord. *** Finally, the jealousy between Ephraim and Judah will end. Ephraim represents the Christian Gentile since Ephraim was adopted into the tribes of Israel. Judah represents the true nationality of Jews that gave us the Messiah, Jesus our Christ. They will fight the enemy together. They will plunder the nations and occupy their land. God will open a path through the Red Sea and over the Euphrates River and it will become of highway for the remnant to come home. *** In Corinthians, Paul is defending his reputation with the church in Corinth. They have been deceived by the Super Apostles and have been coerced into thinking Paul came only to rob them and take advantage of them. Paul didn’t even take up an offering for himself from them and now wishes he had. Sometimes you don’t value something until you have to pay for it. *** He is grieved that when he comes, he wont find them living in righteousness, but following the false apostles who preach you can indulge in sin and still follow God. *** Lord, help us to see your plan. Help us not to take the easy way and fall to false prophets and greasy grace. May we walk in holiness and righteousness. May we see your hand in our land and in the world. May you make a way for justice to return and lawlessness to cease. All glory and honor to the Lamb.

Wed.’s Devo - God of Judgment

Read: Isaiah 8:1-9:21; 2 Corinthians 12:1-10; Psalm 55:1-23; Proverbs 23:4-5 Isaiah asks for two honest men to witness him making a sign which read: Maher-shalalhash-baz which means “quickly to the spoil, hasting the prey.” *** Then Isaiah fulfilled the prophecy about how the virgin would have a son and he and his wife gave birth to a son. They named him the name on the sign because he was the sign. Before he would be able to say ‘Papa’ or ‘Mama’ the king of Assyria would carry away the abundance of Syria and Israel. *** Isaiah told the people of Judah that they had rejected God’s kindness and love and instead they rejoiced when they saw the fate of Israel and Syria. God would flood their land. He warned them not to fear what other nations fear, but to fear the Lord who could destroy them or save them. *** A time of darkness and despair was coming to Judah but it would not last forever. Galilee would one day be filled with the glory of God. Jesus would walk its streets and bring salvation, healing, deliverance and hope. He would be the light in the darkness. The government of the people will rest on his shoulders and he will be our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. God’s government is one of peace, judgment and justice. *** God’s judgment brings destruction to the wicked and those who refuse to repent, but it brings rewards for those who remained faithful to God. *** God spoke out against Jacob. In their arrogance they claimed they would rebuild, but God had proclaimed destruction for them. God would destroy the leaders of Israel and the lying prophets. Even the widows and the orphans were wicked hypocrites. The wickedness of the people would cause them to devour one another. *** In Corinthians, Paul continued to talk about the Super Apostles who told them wild stories of their revelations and encounters with the Lord. Paul could tell them about his encounters but he does’t want to boast. God sent him a thorn in his flesh to keep him humble. Paul learned through this that it is in our weaknesses that He is made strong. *** Lord, in our weaknesses we ask you to be very strong. May our hearts stay humble and pliable in your hands. May we have your eyes to see your signs. May we hear your voice and obey.

Tues.’s Devo - Isaiah’s Message

Read: Isaiah 6:1-7:25; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33; Psalm 54:1-7; Proverbs 23:1-3 Isaiah was promoted to a higher prophetic position when Uzziah lost his position as king. Uzziah had reigned for 50 years and during that time Judah had experienced great prosperity. Uzziah started out as a good king but let pride slip in and one day went into the Temple to do what only the priests were allowed to do. He offered incense on the altar and it took 80 priests to get him out before he was covered with leprosy. His reigning stopped then and his son had to take his place until he died. He was a picture of what had happened to Judah spiritually. *** In the year Uzziah died, Isaiah was brought to God’s throne and shown the Lord and the Temple filled with God’s presence. The angel touched Isaiah’s lips and removed his guilt and forgave his sins. He offered to go to the people to give God’s message. The message was that God was going to harden their hearts so they could not hear, or understand God’s message. *** Isaiah asked how long this would continue and God said until their towns were empty and the whole country was a wasteland. Only a very small remnant would survive. *** Ahaz was the king of Judah at the time. King Resin of Syria and Pekah the king of Israel set out to attack Jerusalem. When Ahaz found out, he was very afraid. God sent Isaiah to go and meet him and tell him to not worry because the invasion would never happen. Israel would be completely destroyed in the next 65 years. *** Later, God sent Isaiah back to Ahaz to tell him to ask for a sign of confirmation and make it as difficult as possible. Ahaz refused to ask for one so God told him he would give him one anyway. He told him that the virgin would have a son and his name would be called Emmanuel which means God is with us. Before he was able to eat solid food, the lands of the kings of Israel and Syria which were threatening to come and take Jerusalem would be deserted. Then the Lord would bring the king of Assyria on Jerusalem. The king of Egypt would also come and take everything in their land. Only a very few people would be left to live off the land. The land would turn to thorns and briers and the wild animals will take over. *** Isaiah’s wife was the virgin or young woman who had a son, but he was also prophesying of a virgin in the future who would have a son and he would be the Messiah who would be God, come down to earth to dwell with us. *** In Corinthians, Paul defends his life of suffering for the truth of the gospel against these “Super Apostles” who have come to deceive them with lies. He asks the people if these people are really servants of Christ. He gives examples of his own life to show what a servant of Christ looks like. It is one who has given his life to serve. Our Psalm was probably Paul’s prayer many times. *** Lord, may we not be deceived by teaching that would entice us to be lazy or justified to sin. May we walk even more uprightly in these days so that your light can shine even brighter in our lives.

Mon.’s Devo - Judgment Brings Reward for the Righteous

Read: Isaiah 3:1-5:30; 2 Corinthians 11:1-15; Psalm 53:1-6; Proverbs 22:28-29 God continues to describe the judgment that is coming to Jerusalem and Judah. Everything they depended on is about to be taken from them… substance and leaders will all be gone. Their leaders will be replaced with unexperienced men. The people will fight each other and have no respect for wisdom. They won’t be able to talk a person into leading them. *** This will all happen because Jerusalem forgot the Lord and provoked His anger. They brought this destruction upon themselves and will reap what they sowed. *** But, to the godly, God said all would be well and they would enjoy the rich reward that they have earned. This is the judgment handed down to the righteous. *** God hands down the judgment to the wicked. Since they filled their houses with things stolen from the poor, the Lord will strip away everything that made her beautiful. Everything will be taken from her and she will get shame for her beauty. *** During that purge, there will be so few men left alive that seven women will pay one man to marry them. But the ones who found refuge in the hope of the coming Messiah will be the fruit of the earth. They will escape the horrible judgment of the wicked. Their sins will be washed away and the presence of the Lord will be a tabernacle of shade from the heat of the day. God will be a place of refuge and a shelter from the storm. *** Chapter 5 gives us a parable of what was happening. Israel the vineyard had brought forth wild grapes and now the vine dresser had to destroy the vineyard. They called evil good, and good evil. They were wise in their own eyes and justified their bribery and unfair justice. God will call distant nations to come and destroy Jerusalem. But there is hope for the righteous. They will find good pastures and feed among the ruins. *** In Corinthians, Paul addresses the new teachings of the “super apostles” who taught a different Jesus than the one he preached. These were probably the Nicolatans who thought themselves superior to everyone else and taught the people that they could practice idolatry and immorality. Paul called them deceivers and compared them to Satan who discusses himself as an angel of light. In the end they will get the punishment they deserve. *** Lord, may we have great discernment in these days to stay on the right path of righteousness. May we not be discouraged by the judgment of the wicked but rejoice in the judgment of the righteous because there is rich reward for us.

Sun.’s Devo - Victory is the Lord’s

Read: Isaiah 1:1-2:22; 2 Corinthians 10:1-18; Psalm 52:1-9; Proverbs 22:26-27 Isaiah is one of my favorite books in the Bible. Isaiah means “God is Salvation.” He is directly quoted 21 times in the New Testament. *** He prophesied during the reigns of Huzzah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, the kings of Judah. It is believed that he was martyred during the reign of Manasseh, Hezekiah’s son. *** He prophesied during a crucial time in the history of Judah and Israel. Both had experienced about 500 years of increasing prosperity and power. Israel had succumbed to pagan worship and Judah had fallen into moral and spiritual decline also. Secret places of pagan worship were tolerated, the wealthy oppressed the poor, the women neglected their families to go after carnal pleasure and many of the priests had become pleasers of men. God’s covenant with his people had become violated by the people and God had sent his prophets to turn the people around before he would have to judge them for their sins. *** Isaiah was one of these prophets sent to turn the people’s hearts back to him. He claimed that the people didn’t know their master and didn’t realize he cared for them. They continued to go through the motion but their hearts were not in it. God said that he hated the hypocrisy of their acts of worship. He called them to repent. He promised to make their scarlet sins as white as snow. *** God proposed to take care of them and be their providers if they would turn and stop oppressing their neighbors. Isaiah warned them of God’s judgement. *** In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house would be the highest of all and the most important place on the earth. It will be the one the people stream to. The people will walk in his ways and obey his teachings. We will no longer war with each other but they will plant for the future. We will plan for life, not death. It will be the enemies of God who will be running to hide under the ground. They will try to escape the judgment of the Lord. *** I can’t think of a time whey Isaiah is not more relevant. This is what we are experiencing in our nation and in the world. We do not need to fear these people who are ruling; the ones who think they are so important. They will soon be hiding in their tunnels and running for their lives. We will occupy their mountains because the kingdoms of the world will become the kingdoms of our God. *** Paul was going through the same spiritual warfare that Isaiah was going through. Paul told us that we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s weapons to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy the pride that keeps people from knowing God. *** Paul defended his God-given authority. His boast was in the Lord and what he had done. *** Lord, our boast is in You and what you have done in our lives and in our nation. You will defeat our enemies because they are your enemies. We will be like olive trees, thriving in the house of God.

Sat.’s Devo - Staying Responsive Reaps Rewards

Read: Song of Songs 5:1-8:14; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 22:24-25 We open today’s reading with the lover entering his garden which is Israel. He is looking to find love from his bride. She welcomes him, then goes to sleep. She hears the call of the Lord and yet is too preoccupied to respond. When she gets ready to respond, he can’t be found. *** She begins a desperate search to return to the Lord. Israel has become prosperous and the envy of other nations but she has lost her real king which is the Lord. *** She speaks of her younger sister which is Judah. Israel had many lovers but God was always calling her back. The true bride hears the Lord’s voice and responds. *** In Corinthians, it sounds like Paul was always asking for money, though none of is was going to himself. He reminded the church at Corinth of their original pledge and prays that they fulfill their promises. He relates their giving to planing seed in a field. The farmer who plants many seeds will get a more generous crop. But, giving must come from the heart. God loves a person who cheerfully gives. *** Paul reminds them of the joy their fellow believers will have when they receive their gift and how thankful they will be. They will see how good God is and it will restore their faith in Him. All of this will go to the account of the people who give. In response, the receivers will pray for the givers. Everybody wins! *** Lord, help us to be cheerful givers and may we always be awake to God’s calling and desirous of his presence.

Fris.’s Devo - Israel’s Story

Read: Song of Songs 1:1-4:16; 2 Corinthians 8:16:24; Psalm 50:1-23; Proverbs 22:22-23 Every time I read Song of Songs I see it a little differently. When I read it this time, I really see the young woman as Israel and the young man as God, come to earth. Of course, we know that it was Jesus who came to earth and we will be his bride, but they only knew God as king. *** Our story begins with the woman wanting the love of her lover. The whole nation loves this man. *** In 1:5, the woman sees the state she is in. It is like when Israel turns back to God after going into idolatry. She wakes up and wants to find God again. God has never stopped loving her. *** The man and the woman have conversation and they reacquaint and fall back in love. But, time goes by without communication and she then decides to go look for God again (3:1). *** The King comes back with his army and Israel beholds his glory once again. They renew their covenant and he wears the crown his mother gave him on his wedding day. In other words, God is acknowledged as their king again. *** He once again expresses his love for his people. The young woman (Israel) prays for the presence of the Lord to blow on them and enjoy them once again. *** In Corinthians, Paul writes that he is coming with Titus who is eager to see them again. Another man will be coming with them who is a respected teacher of the Word. Paul asks that they receive him also with love. They will be on their way to take the offering they have collected to the persecuted people at the church in Jerusalem. *** Lord, may you be our constant companion. May we not forget you or disrespect your Word. May we always be thankful of all you have done.

Thur.’s Devo - Solomon’s Last Words

Read: Ecclesiastes 10:1-12:14; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15; Psalm 49:1-20; Proverbs 22:20-21 Solomon said that having just a little foolishness can spoil great wisdom and honor. On the other hand, if you make big mistakes at your job, by having a quiet spirit you can calm your boss. *** It is a grave mistake to exalt a fool while demoting princes. *** In everything you do, you must count the cost first. God has given us gifts for us to use in our lives, but we shouldn’t be afraid of hard work. *** Watch what you say about those in power over you because it might get back to them. If you are wise and invest, it is wise to have a diverse portfolio. *** We will never understand all the mysteries of God and everything that is coming in the future, so it is wise to fear him. *** If you wait till everything is perfect before your start a venture, you will never start. *** Solomon advised the young to enjoy their youth but to understand that they must give an account to God for everything they do. He tells us to refuse to worry and to keep our bodies healthy. *** He reminds us to remember God before we get too old to be able to make sense. His conclusion is to fear God and keep his commandments because God will bring every work into judgment including every secret thing, whether it is good or bad. *** In Corinthians, Paul was overwhelmed by the generosity of the church in Macedonia. They were very poor and yet they gave abundantly to the church in Jerusalem. *** Paul encourages the church in Corinth to do the same. He reminded them that Jesus, who was rich in heaven, chose to come to earth to be poor and give everything he had to save us. He is our example in how to give. *** Lord, may we remember what your did for us and gladly give of our selves and our means to further your Kingdom on earth. May we refuse to worry and let joy be our medicine.

Weds.’s Devo - The Inheritance We Leave

Read: Ecclesiastes 7:1-9:18; 2 Corinthians 7:8-16; Psalm 48:1-14; Proverbs 22:17-19 Solomon says that a good reputation is very valuable. Our reputation is what we leave to the world and will be spoke about at our funeral. It is wise to go to a funeral to remind ourselves of what we want people to say about us. It is how we finish our lives that is important. Were we patient? Could we control our temper? Did we walk with God? *** If we are wealthy, we need wisdom even more. We need to accept the way God does things and trust that he does work everything out for our good, no matter how twisted it looks at the time. *** In Solomon’s weaving words, he tells us to be balanced in our living and fear God. We also need to have grace for people and remember our own sins. God created us to be virtuous and if we walk down his path, we will be. *** We must do our part in this world and honor authority given by God. God has a time and a way to do everything. He knows how to rescue us from our troubles. *** Solomon makes a very important statement: When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. So true! *** On the other hand, when we walk in righteousness we can enjoy fun. It is the reward of hard work. *** One thing for sure that Solomon got wrong was that what we do on earth, dies with our death. We are spiritual beings and what we do is eternal. What we do is so important for our families. Our righteousness is our spiritual inheritance we pass down to the next generation. How we live our lives effects those who will come behind us. The condition we leave the world is important also, and we will be remembered for that. *** Everyone experiences hard times but they make us stronger and produce patience and faith in our hearts. We learn wisdom by the things we experience and what God teaches us through them. *** Paul proves that in his second letter to the Corinthians. His first letter had been a reproof and it hurt him to send it, but it turned them around so now he is glad he sent it. He says that worldly sorrow that doesn’t result in repentance ends in death. They also showed their maturity by the way the received Titus and loved him even though he brought the letter of rebuke. *** Lord, may we be able to receive rebuke and may it cause us to become even more eager to please you and do your work.

Tues.’s Devo - Life

Read: Ecclesiastes 4:1-6:12; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:7; Psalm 47:1-9; Proverbs 22:16 Solomon observed that those that are oppressed have no hope of change. Solomon thought it would have been better for them if they had never been born. *** He saw that most were motivated to success because they envied what their neighbors had. This was meaningless, like chasing the wind. *** Another meaningless thing he observed was men who worked hard but had no heir to leave it to. That is why it was better to have a partner to share the load with and even three was better. *** Wisdom was greater than riches because riches don’t always benefit a person. Talking less and thinking more is also better especially if you are speaking to God. *** Those in power may oppress the weak and those who love money can never have enough. Money comes and it goes and we can’t take it with us to the grave. *** Solomon noticed one good thing: It is good to be able to enjoy life and what you have. God gives wealth and good health for us to enjoy. If you enjoy what you have, you won’t have time to brood over the past. It is a tragedy to have a lot and never be able to enjoy it. It is equally sad to desire what you don’t have instead of enjoying what you do have. *** Our destinies have been determined by God before we came to earth, so we should learn to be content with what God has decided for us. *** In Corinthians, Paul instructs the people not to partner with unbelievers. God told the Israelites to come out from among the Egyptians and to come to him. This is a command to us also. We have to cleanse our hearts of things that defile our spirits. *** Even our Proverb tells us that oppressing the poor and using bribery to get ahead will only cause us to end in poverty. *** Lord, may we live our lives to enrich those around us with things money can’t buy. May we be vessels that pour out love, hope, peace and joy to nourish those we meet today.

Mon.’s Devo - Finding Meaning

Read: Ecclesiastes 1:1-3:22; 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Psalm 46:1-11; Proverbs 22:15 It is important while reading Ecclesiastes to realize that it was written at the end of Solomon’s life when he had married many foreign wives that led him away from the Lord. Proverbs was written in his early life when he was walking with the Lord and realized that the fear of the Lord was the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs is a book of God’s wisdom and Ecclesiastes is a book of man’s wisdom. It is used to show a comparison of both. In Proverbs, Solomon reveres the Lord above all, in Ecclesiastes, he is cynical and almost mad - as insane. *** Solomon says many times in Ecclesiastes that everything is meaningless. It is, if you think that man is in control. He exhausts himself in finding a meaning to life apart from God. He finds it is like chasing the wind. *** Solomon knows God has made him the wisest man in the world which only makes him more depressed. He tries pleasure but when it doesn’t satisfy he tries building something tangible. It all ended up leaving him empty. He then resorts to philosophy and trying to figure out life. He ends up hating life because it is so troubling. He ends up hating all he had built because he is just going to die and leave it to others. *** After all his searching for meaning, he concludes that it is better to enjoy food, and drink and to find satisfaction in work. It all comes from the hand of God. *** Solomon realizes that everything happens in the right time in God’s cycle and his calendar. God plants eternity in the heart of every person so that he will find no lasting fulfillment here on earth. We are hard-wired for eternity. So, Solomon concludes that man should enjoy their lives on earth because it is not meant to last forever in this condition. *** Paul speaks of this same idea in Corinthians but comes up with a different end. He has faced every kind of hardship gladly in order to preach the truth of Jesus. He lived his life with eternity as his goal. He is not living for the now, but the future. *** Paul speaks of ‘time’ also. He says that at just the right time salvation came to us and that day is today. He had learned that having material things mean nothing. He had nothing and yet he had everything because he had peace in Jesus. Solomon had everything and yet he had no peace. *** Paul begs the Corinthians to open their heart to receiving them with love. *** Lord, may we find our meaning and purpose in you, alone. Thank you for the salvation you have given us in Christ. We rest in your love and mercy.

Sun.’s Devo - Reconciliation

Read: Job 40:1-42:17; 2 Corinthians 5:11-21; Psalm 45:1-17; Proverbs 22:14 God asked Job if he still had a problem with him. Job was humbled and told God he had already spoken too much; he had nothing to say to the Lord. *** Then God continued to question Job. He asked him if he would discredit God’s justice to prove he, Job, was right. He asked Job to show his majesty and prove that the world feared his power. Was he as strong as God? God gave Behemoth as his example of his handiwork. It is believed to be the hippopotamus. The next example he gave was Leviathan which sounds like a fire-breathing dragon. *** Job answered that in his ignorance he had questioned God’s wisdom but now he understood he knew nothing. He took back everything he had said about the Lord and repented. *** The Lord spoke to Eliphaz and told him he was angry with him and his two friends because they had not spoken accurately about him or of Job. He told them to bring seven bulls and seven rams to Job and offer a burnt offering for themselves. Job would pray for them and he would hear Job’s prayer. *** When Job prayed for them, God restored his fortunes double as much as before. He gave him seven more sons and three more daughters. God restored his family and friends to him. He was able to live 140 more years and was able to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. *** Paul defends himself and the gospel of Christ. He claims that Christ died for everyone and will give them new life if they believe he died and rose from death to life. *** They had known Jesus as a man but now they know him as the Christ, the risen Lord. Anyone who comes to Christ becomes a new person, their old life is gone. Christ was the bridge between man and God that people like Job had prayed for. Jesus reconciled us to God and made us right with God. *** Lord, thank you for giving your son for us. Jesus, thank you for dying for us and giving us new life. Holy Spirit, thank you for leading us to truth. May we be witnesses for you on the earth.